August 27th 2011
Biodiversity Corner - Beauty Queens Scaly-breasted Thrasher & Carib Grackle

It’s here once again the most anticipated show of the year; The National Bird Beauty Pageant. Come one come all, this show will be an exciting and extravagant one. Miss it and you miss out on all the excitement!!!!!!

Carib Grackle: My girl, you eh see the poster for the Beauty Pageant yet?

Scaly- breasted Thrasher: What poster? What Beauty Pageant? What you talking about deh girl?

Carib Grackle: The Annual Beauty Pageant that will be held next Saturday. You know,
the show most people look forward to every year.

Scaly-breasted Thrasher: Oh! You mean the show that full of excitement and various
beauties put their all to capture the crown.

Carib Grackle: Yes pal, “that show”. This year I want to take part so I will need some
help to practice my intro, will you be kind enough to do so?

Scaly-breasted Thrasher : Hmmm, you are not the only one who wants that title. I’m entering too. So we work as a team and help each other with our weak areas.

Carib Grackle: What a brilliant idea! If either of us wins we could bask in the ambience of winning and as friends celebrate together.

Scaly-breasted Thrasher: Well let’s not waste any more time. Let’s work on our intro You go first.

Carib Grackle: Good evening distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen of the Animal Kingdom, I am known scientifically as Quiscalus lugubris inflexirostris, locally as Blackbird or Carib Grackle or Merle. I am quite handsome with my jet black feathers and a violet, green or steel-blue gloss. To
compliment my appearance I have a yellowish-white iris and a long V
shaped tail. My chaperon who is also my companion is smaller and dark-
grey overall. I must say that I cherish her for she lays three to four
greenish-blue eggs with black scrawls in our home, a bulky structure made of grass, plant fibers and leaves with a deep central cup that sits on a tree. We thrive on insects and could be seen almost everywhere in St. Lucia. Thanks for coming out to support me and will be sure not to disappoint you my fans.

Scaly-breasted Thrasher:
Short, sweet and straight to the point. Wonderfully said. Let me see if I could do better . Protocol established I will forge ahead. Though I may be considered a shy individual I will wow you the audience this evening. Margarops fuscus schwartzi is the name those scientists refer to me as but you know me as Scaly-breasted Thrasher and your elders as Grieve. I belong to the Thrasher family which consists of three of us. My under-part is white and heavily scaled with grayish- brown from my throat to my belly. I have one white wing-bar, yellow-brown eye and a black bill with white tail tips. I live comfortably in a rough cup-shape nest built in a tree in which my wife lays two or three greenish- blue eggs. I may not have the looks but I sure have the talent to walk away with this Crown tonight. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.


Carib Grackle: Looks like the competition will be tight so I am off to put some finishing
touches on my costume and evening wear. Good luck and see you after the pageant.

Scaly-breasted Thrasher: Thanks. Good luck to you too and may the best bird win!

For more information feel free to call the Forestry Department @ 4685645 / 48 or visit our blog: forestryeeunit.blogspot.com

By: Jeannette Victor & Khervelle Pamphile
Forestry Department

Photos © Hank Tseng

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